Electrode holder



April 20, 1937. A. J. FAUSEK ET AL ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed June 18, 1934 ATrae/vm 3 g M w W1 W Y j 571 ,mm .wm

Patented Apr. 20, .1937

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE HOLDER Application June 18, 1934, Serial No. 731,09?

Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrode holders of the type employed in electric arc welding, and the predominant object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder which is of such 5 improved construction and arrangement that its manufacture is made relatively simple and its use is rendered very convenient.

While the improved electrode holder includes a number of important features, all of which contribute to the superiority of the improved electrode holder over electrode holders formerly employed, the predominant features of the invention include the one-piece jaw construction and the unique mechanical arrangement for spreading the jaws. Also, the novel manner of securing the jaw structure to the handle portion of the electrode holder and the manner of attaching the electrical conductor to the electrode holder are extremely important features of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of the improved electrode holder, portions of the handle and of the electrical conductor being broken away in order to conserve space.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in side ele- 30 vation and partly in longitudinal section, of a second form of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein are shown twoembodiments of the invention, A designates generally the electrode holder shown in Fig. 1. The electrode holder A comprises a jaw structure I which is formed from a single piece of resilient material. This piece of material is bent double, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to provide a pair of opposed and substantially parallel jaws 2, these jaws at their outer ends being provided with gripping elements 3. The resiliency of the piece of material of which the jaws 2 are formed permits the outer end portions of said jaws to be forced toward each other so that electrodes introduced between the elements 3 are tightly gripped thereby. The resiliency of the jaws 2 is increased by providing opposed bowed portions 4 which are located adjacent to the bend 5 at the rear end of the jaw structure.

The electrode holder A includes a handle portion which includes a hollow, tubular handle 6, which may be made from fiber, hard rubber, or any other suitable electrical insulating material. Located within the hollow handle 6 is a sleeve 1, which is fixed at the inner face of the hollow handle, this sleeve if desired being fixedly asso- (Eli. 219-53) ciated with the handle 6 by molding the handle about said sleeve, The sleeve 1 comprises a pair of annular portions l and l which are spaced apart longitudinally of the handle, and connecting portions 'l which are spaced circumferentially of the handle and extend longitudinally of the handle from one annular portion to the other. The annular portion l of the sleeve l is provided with screw-threads 8 at its inner face which serve an important function, to be hereinafter set forth.

Located within the hollow handle 6 of the electrode holder A is a connector 9, by means of which the electrical conductor I0 is electrically connected to the jaw structure of the electrode holder.

The connector 9 includes a portion H which is 15 of circular shape and is provided with screwthreads l2 formed on its outer face. Extended rearwardly from the portion I i is a portion 03 of reduced diameter through which an opening it is formed, this opening being extended also into 20 the portion M, as shown in Fig. 1. An end portion of the electrical conductor I0 is provided with a sleeve 05 formed of some material which is a good conductor of electricity. If desired, a previously formed sleeve may be employed, but, by 25 preference, we wrap a strip of thin metal about the end of the conductor, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The end portion of the electrical conductor ill with the sleeve [l5 arranged thereabout is introduced into the opening I4, as shown in Fig. 1, 30

and set screws l B, which extend through the wall of the portion I3 from different directions, are screwed into close contact with the end portion of the conductor so as to tightly clamp it in place within the opening N. The conductor rearwardly of the end portion thereof about which the sleeve l 5 is arranged extends through the hollow handle 6 of the electrode holder to a suitable source of electrical energy, and is provided with a suitable 4 insulating covering l8.

Extended forwardly from the portion l l of the connector 9 is a narrow neck portion l9, which preferably is formed integral with said portion 1 I and with a portion 20 which serves as a closure element for the end of the hollow handle 6. The 45 The closure portion 20 of the connector includes a portion which extends into the forward end portion of the hollow handle 6, and extended outwardly from this portion of said closure portion is a flange 23. When the connector 9 is in its normal position within the hollow handle 6 the flange 23 of the closure portion 20 is spaced a slight distance from the forward edge of the hollow handle, and supported in this space is a shield 24. The shield is considerably larger than the diameter of the handle, so that it will protect the hand of a user of the electrode holder from the heat produced when the holder is being used. The inner portion of the shield is tightly gripped between the fiange 23 and the adjacent forward end of the handle, so that said shield is firmly held in its proper position. The shield 24 is provided with a slot 25, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

As already stated herein, the resiliency of the material of which the jaw structure is formed forces the outer end portions of said jaws toward each other, and the improved electrode holder includes means for separating said jaws. means includes an operating member 26 which is pivoted at 21 to ears 28 secured to one of the jaws 2. The operating member 26 includes a handle portion 26f which extends rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, said handle portion being extended through the slot 25 in the shield 24 and, as will presently appear, being movable longitudinally of said slot. The operating member 26 is provided with an overhanging portion 29 having an abutment face 29' at its lower end, this overhanging portion having an opening 30 formed therein which is open at said abutment face 29.

The jaw to which the operating member 26 is pivoted has an opening 3| formed therethrough, and extended through this opening is an element 32. One end of the element 32 is tapered as shown at 33 in Fig. 1, and this tapered end of the element 32 contacts with the abutment face 29' of the operating member 29 at the opening 30 said tapered end of said element 32 being extended a slight distance into said opening. The opposite end of the element 32 is rounded, as indicated at 34 in Fig. 1, and an extension 35 of reduced width is extended from said rounded end of said element. The rounded end of the element 32 is seated in an opening 36 formed through the jaw 2 other than the jaw to which the operating member 26 is pivoted, and the extension 35 extends into this opening. Thus a swivel contact is provided between the rounded end of the element 32 and the jaw with which this rounded end is associated, which permits more or less universal movements between said element and said jaw. Arranged within the opening 30 and in contact with the tapered end of the element 32 is a plunger 31, and interposed between this plunger and the inner wall of the opening 30 is a coil spring 38 which is under slight compression, so that it tends to force the plunger outwardly. The purpose of this plunger and coil spring will be hereinafter set forth. Also, the

operating member is provided with a toe portion 39 which, when the operating element reaches its normal undepressed position, contacts with the jaw to which the operating member is pivoted so as to act as a stop to limit upward movement of the handle portion 26 of the operating member. As shown in Fig. 1, the handle portion 26' of the operating member is provided with a suitable insulating covering 40.

This.

When in the use of the device it is desired to spread the jaws 2 apart in order to withdraw or insert an electrode, the electrode holder is grasped by its handle 6 and the user with his thumb depresses the handle portion 26' of the operating member 26. This causes the abutment face 29' of the operating member to move the element 32 longitudinally of its axis, with the result that the jaw with which the rounded end of said element 32 contacts is moved away from the other jaw. At the same time the point of contact between the tapered end of the element 32 and the abutment face 29' is constituted a fulcrum point, hence the pivotal point 21 between the operating member 26 and the associated jaw will be moved in a direction to move the last-mentioned jaw away from the firstmentioned jaw. Thus depression of the handle portion of the operating member simultaneously moves the jaws away from each other, so that an electrode may be removed from or introduced between the jaws of the electrode holder, and when the operating member is released the resiliency of the jaw structure will cause said jaws to move into gripping contact with each other. The contact between the tapered end of the element 32 and the abutment face 29' is sufllciently loose so that initial downward movement of the handle portion of the operating member 26 places the coil spring 33 under additional compression, hence when the handle portion of the operating member is released after depression thereof the compressed coil spring will tend to return the operating member to its normal elevated position.

In attaching the electrical conductor III to the connector 9 the handle 6 and the shield 24 are passed onto the electrical conductor and moved longitudinally thereof until the forward end portion of the electrical conductor is extended some distance forwardly of the handle and shield. The end portion of the electrical conductor with the sleeve l5 applied thereto is then introduced into the opening H in the connector 9 and is clamped therein in the manner already explained. The handle 6 is then screwed on the connector 9 until the shield is tightly clamped between the flange 23 of the closure portion 20 and the adjacent end edge of the hollow handle 6.

In Fig. 4 we illustrate a form of the invention which includes a pair of jaws 40 and 4| formed from a single piece of material, and these jaws are provided with opposed curved portions 42. Pivotally attached to the jaw 40 at the curved portion 42 thereof is an operating member 43, said operating member including a handle portion 43' which extends rearwardly of the electrode holder. By preference the operating member 43 is of inverted U-shaped cross-section, and opposed skirt portions 44 thereof are disposed at opposite sides of the jaw 40. The operating member 43 is pivoted to the jaw 40 by a pivot pin or bolt 45. The pivot pin or bolt 45 is extended through an opening formed transversely through the jaw 40 and also passes through apertures formed through the opposed skirt portions of the operating member 43 so as to pivotally connect said operating member to the jaw 40.

Pivotally contacting with the jaw 4| is a link 41. The base portion 41 of the link is tapered or sharpened, and is arranged in the seat provided at the inner face of the curved portion 42 of the jaw 4| so as to provide free pivotal contact between the base of the link and the jaw 4|. Also, the link at its upper end is provided with outwardly extended portions 41 which are extended into apertures formed in the opposed skirt por= tions 44 of the operating member 43.

In the use of the electrode holder shown in Fig. 4, the resiliency of the material of which the jaws 40 and 4| are formed causes the outer portions of the jaws to be forced into close contact with each other, so that electrodes will be tightly gripped thereby. When it is desired to separate the jaws to remove an electrode or introduce an electrode therebetween, the handle portion of the operating member is depressed. This causes the link 4'! to move the jaw 4| away from the jaw tit, and at the same time constitutes the pivotal points between the operating member 13 and the linlr H fulcrum points which cause the pivot pin it to move in a manner to move the jaw it in a direction away from the jaw 4 i.

In Fig. 4 the connector 49 is provided with screw-threads 5t which engage screw-threads ti formed. directly on the inner face of the hollow handle 52. Also both clamping screws 53 ex tend into the connector 49 from the same direction. In this connector the cavity 5% into which the electrical conductor, that conducts electric current to the electrode holder, is introduced is ofiset from the center of the connector so that a thicker wall 55 is provided at one side oi the cavity through which the clamping screws are extended.

It is important to note in connection with the form of the invention shown in 4 that the leverage of the operating element it increases as the pivotal points between linlr ill? and the operating element 43 move toward the pivot it) of the operating element on actuation of the operat ing element. Thus there is an equalization of the force necessary to depress the operating element as the handle portion oi said operating element moves downwardly, the leverage being less while the required force necessary to open the laws is relatively little and the leverage increasing as the resistance to the opening movement of the jaws increases.

The one-piece jaw structures shown in the Figs. 1 and 4 will be produced from a metal which is characterized by the ability to withstand the high temperatures to which said jaw structures are subjected without loss of resiliency.

We claim:

1. An electrode holder comprising a pair of resilient jaws, a handle associated with said jaws, the resiliency of said jaws tending to force :Said jaws together, and means for separating said jaws, said means including an element arranged in contact with one of said jaws, and an operat ing member movably connected to the other of said jaws and arranged in engagement with said element in such manner that movement oi said operating member imparts movement to said element longitudinally of its major axis, whereby movement of said operating member in one direction moves the jaws away from each other.

2. An electrode holder comprising a pair of resilient jaws, a handle associated with said jaws, the resiliency of said jaws tending to force said jaws together, and means for separating said jaws, said means including an element arranged in contact with one of said jaws, and an operating member pivotally connected to the other of said jaws and arranged in engagement with said element in such manner that movement of said operating member imparts movement to said element longitudinally of its major axis, whereby movement of said operating memb'er in one direction moves the jaws away from each other.

3. An electrode holder comprising a pair of resilient jaws, a handle associated with said jaws, the resiliency of said jaws tending to force said jaws together, and means for separating said jaws, said means including an element arranged in movable contact with'one of said jaws, and an operating member movably connected to the other of said jaws and arranged in engagement with said element in such manner that movement of said operating member imparts movement to said element longitudinally oi its major axis, whereby movement of said operating member in one direction moves the jaws away from each other.

4. An electrode holder comprising a pair of resilient jaws, a handle associated with said jaws, the resiliency of said jaws tending to force said jaws together, and means for separating said jaws, said means including an element arranged in swivel contact with one of said jaws and extended through an opening formed through the other of 5 said jaws, an operating member pivotally connected to the last-mentioned member and arranged in engagement with said element, whereby movement of said operating member in one direction moves the jaws away from each other, and resilient means arranged to exert force against said element and a portion of said operating memher so as to return the operating member to its normal position after same has been actuated.

5. An electrode holder comprising a pair of resilient jaws formed from a single piece of resilient material, a handle associated with said jaws, the resiliency of said jaws tending to force said jaws together, and means for separating said jaws, said means including an element arranged in contact with one oi said jaws, and an operating member movably connected to the other of said jaws and arranged in engagement with said element in such manner that movement of said operating member imparts movement to said element longitudinally oi its major axis, whereby movement of said operating member in one direction moves the jaws away from each other.

ARTHUR J. FAUSEK. IRWING F. FAUSEK. 

